Deal of the Century

(A/N: Didn't initially have the Aphrodite part in this, wanted to skip that part of the myth, but decided it would probably be necessary given how stubborn Hades can be. He'd need the kick in the backside to get him to act on his desire. Basically it's the equivalent of a friend encouraging you to make the moves on the person you have your eye on.)

Hades sipped on Nectar and ate a bit of the Ambrosia, eyes watching the goddess—who he had recalled now to be named Kore—mingling with the crowds and laughing with friends. It was forced, he knew. She was pretending to have a good time. While she might have been having her share of fun, it was apparent this sort of shindig wasn't her bag. Which meant she was ripe for the prying. Dancing was happening now, and she pulled against a far pillar. Hermes and Apollo both begged her to dance. While she obliged them each with one, she didn't oblige them with more. Not that she could have if she'd wanted to. Demeter was keeping them far, far away from her daughter. Which meant mommy was too distracted to stop him from moving in. He cracked his knuckles, smirked, smoothed back his flames, and moved swiftly over to her.

"Hey, how you doing? Name's Hades, lord of the dead," he said to her, holding out his hand.

She looked guardedly over at him. "I know who you are," she answered. "Not many don't know."

"Right, right, right, but hey, social protocol and all that garbage," Hades replied, waving it off.

"Oh, is it?" she asked. "I-I'm not used to being around, you know, big crowds like this. Kind of isolated out in the forest. I don't really have many people to talk to. Well, Oceanids, nymphs, and sometimes Artemis and Athena, but yeah. Um, am I talking too much?"

"No, no, go on," Hades prompted. Let your guard down, he inwardly added. "Got all day. Hate these parties. Come for the food, leave the minute it's gone."

"I'm surprised you're here at all after what you did," she bit at him.

He kept the grin on but inwardly resisted the urge to smite her. "Right, right, the whole Titan misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? You tried to take over Olympus," she deadpanned.

"How do you like the party?" Hades blurted, quickly changing the subject. This was sliding backwards fast and he had no intentions of letting it go on.

"Oh, um, well, I guess it's okay. Like I said, I'm not really a fan, but some parts have been pretty awesome," she replied.

Wow, this goddess was younger than he'd thought, using terms like that. Possibly equivalent to a teenager. Eighteen by human terms possibly, if not less. Or maybe equivalent to twenty to twenty-two. Was hard to tell. "Right, right, awesome, right. You liking the dancing? Need anything? Nectar, ambrosia, an escape?"

She started and looked curiously at him. "You can get me out of here?" she asked.

"I can manage something," he replied, smirking devilishly. And in the process, get her far away from overprotective Demeter and straight into his clutches.

Kore hesitated, thinking. She soon smiled mischievously. "Okay, I'm in. Get me away from this place," she said.

"My pleasure," Hades replied, smirking evilly. "Look, a distraction!" he called out, pointing somewhere far away. All the others turned. He seized Kore and pulled her out of the area as the others began to realize they'd been duped and looked angrily around for him. He, of course, was nowhere to be found.

Hercules

He and Kore darted behind a wall, him grinning wickedly quite proud of himself, her peering out excitedly. "That was amazing! I can't believe they fell for it!" she exclaimed.

"What can I say? It's a talent," Hades replied, polishing his nails slash claws on his robes.

"I can go pick flowers or garden or read poetry now!" she exclaimed. "Well, at least until I need to go back. Mother will notice I'm gone, soon, and that won't be pretty for anyone."

Hades looked dubiously at her. Pick flowers or garden or read? Wow. Interest was being lost and quick. "Pick flowers? Garden? Poetry? What are you, a nerd or something? You can come up with more creative than that," he said.

She turned to him, frowning with eyes flashing. Hmm, he liked that fire he saw in her eyes. "W-well it's dark poetry! I like the darker and grimmer edge to things sometimes… most of the time… Besides, I like doing that sort of thing, so there!"

"Persephone, Persephone, babe, be a little daring," he said, slipping his hand around behind her neck and resting it on her shoulder.

She looked at his hand curiously, oblivious to the intimacy of the gesture, and turned back to him. "Persephone? Why do you call me Persephone? My name is Kore."

"Kore just doesn't suit you like Persephone does," Hades replied.

"What does Persephone mean?" she questioned.

"Eh, has a couple meanings. Either 'to bring death' or 'she who lightens the darkness'," he answered.

"Which one do you mean when you say it?" she asked.

"God of the dead. Take a guess," he replied, smirking at her.

"You think bringer of death suits me?" she incredulously asked.

"Dark poetry, darker and grimmer edge to things, why not?" Hades replied, shrugging.

"Well, I do like pretty dark music," she admitted. And despite her innocence, she did have some pretty grim hobbies, but still! "I still don't know whether to be offended or not," she replied.

"Don't be," Hades replied. "Now come on, let's find our own kind of fun." He took her hands as he said this, bringing her near.

"Like what?" she obliviously asked.

His grin fell to a dubious frown as his eyes narrowed. Really? She seriously wasn't getting the innuendos? He shrugged. Whatever. He could work that in his favor. "Show me around Olympus. Or heck, the grove where your mother's hidden you away, wherever that is."

"Well, alright, but I need to get back soon. Mom's probably looking for me," Persephone answered. "I'll show you my grove."

Hades smirked. "Good, good," he 'cooed'. Then he would know exactly where to find her. Or look for her.

Hercules

Hades grinned wickedly. He couldn't believe his luck! Not too far away from here was a field of wildflowers. In which grew a dark narcissus flower, might he add; a gate to the Underworld. "Well, this is it," Persephone said, gesturing around. He looked around at all the colorful flowers and other such nature related things, unimpressed yet at the same time very impressed. It was well tended, and tasteful. And he saw subtle nuances, dark nuances, in it that Demeter definitely hadn't caught onto the meaning of yet. He approved of them. She was a slick little creature, he'd give her that. Had her own sneaky little way of rebelling against her mother. A good number of the plants and flowers here were associated with death or dark tales. Impressive.

"Nice, nice, very nice," he said. "Clever little references you have hidden away here."

She blushed, tensing up. "Oh you-you caught those, huh?" she asked.

"Babe, babe, I'm the god of the Underworld, lord of the dead. You think I'd miss them?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"You won't tell mother, will you?" she worriedly asked.

"Lips sealed, done deal. Secret's safe with me," Hades replied, waving it off.

"Thanks," she replied, smiling in relief.

"You could seal me to that deal, though," he cooed. "After all, didn't swear on Styx now, did I?"

She frowned worriedly. "You mean you might still tell?" she asked nervously.

"Persuade me otherwise," he replied, leaning over her with a wicked grin as she leaned back against a tree, pinned beneath him. And still oblivious to the undertones in his every word and action. Goddess of maidenhood. Another term for innocence, basically. Definitely working to his advantage now. He liked watching innocence ripped away. He relished in it, got off on it, and oh he would relish in seeing this innocence flee. Goddess of innocence wouldn't be so innocent for very long, if things went his way.

"How?" she questioned breathlessly, heart beating fast. She didn't know why it was beating fast, or why she sounded so breathless or was trembling, but she wasn't too concerned about it.

"Oh, I can think of something," Hades replied, playing with her hair lightly.

"Like what?" she asked.

His smirk fell to a frown. Oi, she couldn't be serious. She blinked obliviously. Wow. She was. Hmm, okay. He could get the point across right here and now, roughly. She was at his mercy, after all. All he really needed to do was throw her down on the ground and have at her. Thing was he wasn't too inclined to the idea of forcing the girl into doing anything. That would end horribly for him, for her, and for everyone involved. He liked watching innocence be stripped away, but come on, there were boundaries not even he would cross. Rape, for lack of a gentler term, was one of those boundaries. Though for a moment, just a smidgen of a second, he was sorely tempted.

He smiled again. "Let me lay it out for you, honey. I dig you. I dig you a lot. Prettiest little thing I've seen for a while, Aphrodite notwithstanding. Point is I want you," he said.

"Want me for what?" she asked. Now he wasn't sure if she was obfuscating naivety and knew exactly what he meant, or if she was serious.

He frowned then smirked, pulling her close. She felt her heart skip a beat. Wow he was near. Wow he smelled nice. She'd expected sulphur and brimstone, but that was definitely not his scent. More like smoke. A really pleasant smoke. A smoky smoke. Wow his arms were strong. Wow he was hot. Not hot, hot, just, you know, his body was hot! Like fire hot, not like, you know, good looking hot! Though she certainly wasn't complaining about that either. Like, he wasn't the greatest looking deity she'd ever seen, Apollo took the cake there, but he was kind of a rugged and frightening and unique good looking. "Take a guess," he replied. She blushed brightly, suddenly clicking as to what he was implying.

She whimpered and pulled away quickly. "Let's get back to the party. Mother's probably searching," she quickly said, hurriedly moving away from him feeling suddenly uneasy.

Hades scowled and thought about bringing up the secrets she wanted kept from Demeter before thinking the better of it. Blackmail was more his bag than forcing himself on her was, but then in a way it was still forcing it on her. Giving someone no choice was pretty well the same thing. Not that he was much for the honor bit, and again he was sorely tempted to grab her back regardless of her protests, but he quelled that urge quick enough. Of course, he might not get another chance… But then again, her grove was close to the field, so… He smirked. "Hey, whatever you say, Sephy baby, playtime's over. Let's go."

Hercules

Demeter was almost hysterical. "Where is my baby?!" she wailed in dismay as Hera, Hestia, Zeus, and Poseidon tried to console her before she ruined the party.

"Demeter, she probably just went off to garden or to pick flowers," Zeus insisted.

"Right, that," Poseidon backed, though he and Zeus exchanged nervous looks. You see, they realized Hades wasn't around either. "Just picking flowers." Or losing something more than the poor thing had ever wanted to lose. Oh, if Hades had…

"I want my Kore back!" Demeter freaked at them.

"Demeter, please!" Hestia said, covering her ears.

"Kore will be returned soon enough," Hera promised.

"When!?" Demeter panicked.

"Demi, baby, come on, take a chill pill. Here she is, safe and sound, Kore right back in your arms. Now drop the dramatics, yikes. Seriously, you're gonna give yourself an aneurism if you keep this up," Hades said, suddenly appearing next to them, holding Kore's hand. "Went off to her grove. I went after her to bring her back to you. Showed me around, baddabing baddaboom, here she is."

"Right. Sorry mother, I didn't mean to worry you. I just got bored," Kore agreed, playing off Hades's lie.

"Kore! Darling, you're safe!" Demeter said, crushing her daughter in a hug.

Persephone coughed and struggled. "Mother, choking," she stammered out. Demeter let her go sheepishly, cringing and grinning innocently as she shrugged.

"Well, on that note I believe this party should be called. It's late," Hera said.

"And I agree," Zeus said, though really he didn't. He and Poseidon still hadn't figured out a way to escape Hades's deal, which meant Hades was dangerously close to finally winning. "Why don't you go do that, Hera? You, Hestia, Demeter, and Kore. Hades, Poseidon and I have… things to discuss." Hestia, Demeter, and Hera looked suddenly worried. Zeus offered them a lame smile that failed at being reassuring. They cringed, looked uneasily over at Hades, then wandered off. Zeus and Poseidon turned back to their brother.

"Hades, I'm afraid…" Zeus began.

"Zeus," Poseidon whispered. Zeus paused, looking over. Hades was looking over at Kore, watching her leave with the other three goddesses. The brothers exchanged glances. "I think we've found our salvation."

Zeus looked uneasy, cringing, then bowed his head with a sigh. "You're right…" he weakly said. Though this was the last thing he wanted to do, it was all they had anymore to save both themselves and Olympus as well as the mortal coil from Hades's tyranny. But to give Persephone to Hades as a sacrifice… The thought sickened him. Surely there was some other way.

Poseidon nodded. "I'll get Eros," he said. He left silently. This was between Zeus and Hades now. Eros's arrows would just help seal the deal. It was apparent the desire was already there, it just might take that extra little push to get Hades to topple. Aidoneus wasn't an easy sell.

Hercules

Poseidon approached Eros, who was with Aphrodite. The plan, as it stood, was basically to gift Kore to Hades like a prize. There was lust and Eros needed to only push it so Hades would pick pleasure. A roll in the hay, so to speak, maybe a few other interludes when Hades got the urge, and the world, Olympus, and humanity would be safe. One goddess's honor in exchange for millions of lives. It was cruel, but what was crueller? Letting the world die to spare one of their own, that was crueller… Or so they were telling themselves… But he was unimpressed with it all. Ugh, why did it have to be lust that drove Hades to take the deal? Why couldn't it be love? Attraction was there, genuine attraction though lust overshadowed it. If attraction could be brought out… An idea began to form. Yes, that might be it. They could all still win, Kore included, if he played his cards right.

"Aphrodite, Eros, long time no see," Poseidon said to them, grinning.

"Are you serious, Poseidon?" Aphrodite incredulously asked.

"Oh come on, humor me," Poseidon replied. Aphrodite and Eros exchanged looks then shrugged.

"So, what's up?" Aphrodite asked.

"Just wondering about your quotas," Poseidon answered. "Business good?"

"For the most part. Few stubborn mortals who resist love for all they're worth, but eh, I deal with it," Aphrodite answered.

"Right. And, uh, your quotas with the divines?" Poseidon asked. "You know, your fellow deities."

Aphrodite raised an eyebrow. She hadn't checked those lately, actually. "Hmm…" she began, poofing up a list and scanning through. "Pretty well every one of them say for a few are in line. Only the virgin goddesses are untouched, and even then Artemis fell for a couple mortals a while back. Just Kore, Athena, Hestia, and a couple others to go."

"And Hades," Poseidon pointed out, annoyed she was missing it.

"Excuse me?" Aphrodite asked.

"Hades. You know, the one god in the entirety of Olympus and beyond that you haven't had under your power at least once. Well, at least not for a few thousand years," Poseidon said.

Aphrodite's eyes narrowed. "Menthe," she answered bluntly.

"Come on, Dite, you know Menthe is just lust. No love on his part there," Poseidon said. "Don't even know if he's done anything with her beyond flirting. Eh, let's face it. Hades is just above you pay grade. You're never going to get that stick in the mud under the power of love."

"Oh really?!" Aphrodite demanded.

"Who does he even look at with interest, honey? Hades is out of your control and loves it," Poseidon said.

"I don't think so! Watch me conquer him. No god escapes my power. Not even Hades! Especially since he's related to you and Zeus. No way is he getting away with never feeling anything for anyone," Aphrodite declared. "Before the end of the day you'll see. He'll be at my mercy."

"Hah! Good luck. The only goddess he's looked at with anything akin to interest since being here is Kore, and we all know how that would go if Demeter found out," Poseidon said.

"Kore, huh? Eros, we have a job to do. Let's move," Aphrodite said. "Get your most powerful and painful arrow in existence. This happens now."

"Right behind you, ma'am," Eros agreed, saluting. Immediately both vanished. Poseidon sighed in relief. There was still a chance good could come from this on all sides. Kore's honor wouldn't be tainted this way, at least. Though to be honest, he wasn't truly sure if Hades would have taken a bargain like that anyway, even despite the fact there had been genuine interest in his brother. Maybe… Maybe this would be best for Hades too.

Hercules

Kore was moving out of sight. Hades followed. Zeus tailed along behind. Hades paused at a railing and rested his chin on his hand as he watched Kore moving off with her mother. Kore suddenly pulled away from Demeter and rushed with a delighted squeal to a basket of beautiful flowers, diving right in. Demeter shook her head affectionately with a loving smile. Persephone buried her arms up to the elbows in the basket and tossed them into the air laughing in glee, dancing under the shower. Hades leaned forward so far that he felt himself losing balance. Luckily Zeus pulled him back, snapping him out of his stupor. Hades shook his head. Ugh, what was he doing? There were more important things to focus on about now.

He turned agitatedly to Zeus. "I take it you've decided what to do?" he asked, smirking wickedly. "So, what's it going to be? Give me Olympus or watch the world burn and your friends and family up here fall apart?" Not that that wasn't already happening.

"I want to offer you one more deal," Zeus said.

"No deals, no bargains. My terms or no terms," Hades replied, cutting him off.

Ignoring him, Zeus continued, "You'll want to hear it, Hades."

"Fine. Shoot," Hades replied. Not that he'd take it, but what the heck? He'd give his brother this last hope before ripping it away. Would be crueller that way. He liked seeing Zeus sweat.

"In exchange for you leaving Olympus alone for good, I'll… I'll give you Kore to be your, err, personal companion," Zeus bluntly answered.

"What?!" Hades exclaimed, flaring up in shock. What the heck had he just heard?!

"I offer you Kore as your entertainer in exchange for you leaving Olympus and the mortal world alone," Zeus repeated through gritted teeth. If not forever, then at least long enough for them to figure something else out.

Hades's mouth was dropped in shock. He couldn't be hearing this. "Kore? You mean Demeter's Kore? Goddess of spring, vegetation, maidenhood, etc? Cute kid about yay high?" Hades asked, holding his hand at about Kore's height. "Oblivious as oblivious can possibly be, totally virgin goddess with a bit of a dark side if you look?"

Zeus shrugged. "What can I say? She got it from her grandfather like you got it from our father," he answered.

"You're serious. No tricks, no nothing. You're offering me Demeter's pride and joy and your favorite flower child?" Hades asked. To become his concubine, euphemisms aside, at that.

"I am," Zeus answered. "In exchange for you leaving Olympus and the mortals alone for good. Or for the most part." Hades looked ponderous. Hmm. Olympus, Persephone, Olympus, Persephone, Olympus, Persephone… Wow, that choice was harder than he'd thought it would be.

Hercules

"There he is. Take aim and make sure you don't miss," Aphrodite said, touching the arrow's tip and infusing it with power.

"How powerful is this?" Eros asked. "They only work if there's genuine attraction already there, you know."

"And there is, and it's as powerful as it can be given Hades. Poseidon was right about one thing, he's a challenge. In theory, the arrow will be so potent that he'll fall so deeply in love with her it will physically ache. But only, like you said, if the potential for him genuinely loving her like that is there."

"And if it isn't?" Eros asked, seriously doubting Hades could love anything besides himself.

Aphrodite looked at Hades quietly for a moment. "It is," she finally answered. "I honestly believe he could go without this boost and still achieve the same state." Eros nodded then took aim at Hades and fired with precision.

Hercules

As Hades thought it over, he felt a sharp pain in his backside and started. What the…? He looked around and saw nothing. Weird. "Nice shot," Aphrodite whispered to Eros.

"If he wasn't going to take it before, he will now," Eros assured, smirking.

"Demeter is going to sink us," Poseidon deadpanned, approaching them both. Eros and Aphrodite cringed. They knew the god of the sea was right. In fact, most of the deities would sink them when they learned about this deal.

"The offer is tempting, Zeusy boy, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to go with…" Hades began. He paused, hearing Kore laughing. Quickly he looked over the edge again. He cursed himself for it right after. She had fallen back on the grass, clutching an armful of flowers to her breast and grinning up at the sky, eyes closed as Demeter chuckled and called out for her daughter to stop playing around and come. You know what? Screw Olympus. "You'll really give her to me, huh?" he asked.

"I will," Zeus confirmed.

"And Demeter…" Hades began.

"Err, never mind Demeter, I'll deal with her," Zeus said. Hades knew that was code for 'she never has to know because she'd never agree to this'.

"No strings, no nothing?" Hades asked.

"Hades, when I make a deal I keep it. Who do you think I am? I swear by the River Styx that she will be your… your playmate," Zeus promised firmly.

Hades was silent, watching as Persephone sat up on her knees and combed her fingers through her long hair, weaving flowers into it. "Make her my wife," he said flatly.

Zeus started, eyes bugging out of his head. "Excuse me?" he asked.

"Make her my wife," Hades repeated, glaring at Zeus. "I don't play the rent-a-goddess game, bro. If this is real, I want in it for the long run. Make her my consort. My wife."

Zeus was silent. "Very well," he said. "She will be your wife."

"Deal," Hades found himself saying before he could guard his tongue. Immediately the evils stopped tormenting the world. More than usual. They sensed the peace almost immediately. "Keep Olympus, but Persephone is mine."

"Persephone?" Zeus asked.

"My name for her," Hades explained, brushing it off.

"Very well. Kore—err, Persephone—is yours. You'll have to get her yourself, or Demeter will know," he said.

"Oh, believe me, I intend to," Hades answered. He already had a plan. Immediately he poofed back down to the Underworld to bide his time and wait for the opportune moment.

Poseidon appeared next to Zeus. "You did the right thing," he said.

"I hope so," Zeus replied weakly. He hated that the right thing hurt so much. Oh Kore…